"he wouldn't fire rockets if israel wasn't killing us." israel says the operation is in response to the relentless barrage of rockets flying into southern israel. the israeli defense forces say militants have launched almost 600 rockets into the country in the past three days alone. around a third of which have been intercepted by israel's famed iron dome anti-missile system. since wednesday, three people have died in israel and, for the first time since the gulf war in 1991, the commercial center, tel aviv, has also come under attack. >> the attempt last night by the terrorists in gaza to launch rockets on tel aviv only underscores the danger that the israeli public faces. >> reporter: tonight, a neighborhood of tel aviv, a popular night spot, was quiet. >> i'm stressed, also, but you know, life is continuing. >> reporter: the israeli military isn't taking any chances, as soldiers and armored vehicles mass near the gaza border, preparing for a ground offensive. >> we are preparing for any possibility. a ground operation is a possibility,